Ernst paul stark



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. P. STARK.

HARP.

No. 570,826. Patented Nov. 3, 1896.

WITNESSES: |NVENT0R Q2. 6 EmsEPauZ Shirk.

- BY Maw/W ATTOR N EYS.

m5 cams PETERS co. wow-urns. wnummm n c.

2 Sheath-Sheet 2. E. P. STARK.

HARP.

(No Model.)

EmsiPauZ Siarlf.

ATTORNEY WuwW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNST PAUL STARK, OF MARKNEUKIROIIEN, GERMANY.

HARP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,826, dated November8, 1896.

Application filed July 80,1896. Serial No. 601,072. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, ERNST PAUL STARK, a citizen of the German Empire,residing at Markneukirchen, in the Kingdom of Saxony and German Empire,have invented new and useful Improvements in Harps, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of this invention is to obtain a simple and effective pedalmechanism and also to avoid the formation or occurrence of harsh tonesin a harp; and the invent-ion resides in the novel features ofconstruction set forth in the following specification and claims andillustrated in the annexed drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a harp. Fig. 2 is a detail view of rods or slides. Fig. 3is a plan view of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a rod or slide.Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of the harp. Fig. 6 is a detail sideelevation of a string tightening or stretching lever. Fig. 7 is a planview of the same.

The harp-frame is shown at 1 2 3. The frame side 3 with back l: forms aclosure for the chamber or space extending along such side. The base orfoot is shown at 5. The strings 6 are secured to the tuning-pins 7 atframe side 2, and said strings extend through perforations in side 3into the chamber.

The string ends in the chamber are each wound about or secured to apulley 8, having its bearing or pivot 9 supported by a carrier or strip10. The pulleys 8 form fulcrum parts for levers 11, extended under orengaged by hooks 12 on slides or rods 13. These slides 13 are formed asnarrow strips or plates 0ccupying comparatively small space when placedalongside one another in guide 1%, Fig. 3.

The slides are engaged by pedals 15, and a depression of a pedal willmove a slide 13 to swing a lever or set of levers 11 and rotate thecorresponding pulleys 8, so that the tension of the correspondingstrings is increased or the strings are stretched, as for raising thepitch half a tone. By having a suitable number of slides 13 and havingone slide or its hooks 12 engaging, for example, the levers 11connecting with A-strings, all such strings of the instrument can besuitably tightened or stretched. Similarly slides 13 can be arranged forstretching the B-strings, O-strin gs, and other strings of the harp.

The carrier 10 and guide let are supported clear of or to a great extentout of contact with the chamber or casement sides 3 and 4;. The carrier10 is shown secured to blocks or ribs 16, Fig. 1, interposed between thecarrier and chamber side 4, and the guide 14 is shown steadied by bracesor arms 17. The stretching of the strings is eased or chafing of thestrings is avoided by leading the strings about pulleys or rollers 18,Fig. 1, as said strings bend or pass into the space between the walls orsides 3 4. By having the carrier 10 and guide 14: clear the sides 3 andat the vibration or efficiency of these sides as regards the sounding ofthe harp is not affected.

The pedals 15 extend out of base or foot 5 through suitably-shoulderedapertures 19, so that a depressed lever when moved laterally to comeunder or engage such shoulder will be held depressed to maintain theraised pitch of a certain string or strings as long as desired.

The levers are fulcrumed in the base 5 at 20 and connect with slides 13in any suitable way, as by links 21 and levers 22.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a harp, the combination with a carrier supported in theharp-casing, of a lever fulcrumed at one end on said carrier, alixedpulley on the fulcrumed end of said lever and connected to one end ofthe harp-string, a slide engaging the free end of said lever, and apedal for actuating said slide, substantially as described.

2. In a harp, the combination with a carrier supported in theharp-casing, of a series of levers each fulcrumed at one end on saidcarrier, a fixed pulley on the fulcrumed end of each of said levers, aseries of slides each engaging the free end of one of said levers, and aplurality of pedals, one for each slide, for actuating the slides, oneend of each of the harp-strings being connected to one of said pulleys,substantially as described.

3. In a harp, the combination with a carrier supported in theharp-casing, of a series of levers fulcrumed near one end on saidcarrier, a fixed pulley on the fulcrumcd end of each lever, a series ofslides each provided with a projection engaging the free end of one ofsaid levers, and a plurality of pedals, one for each slide, foractuating the slides, one end of each of the harp-strings beingconnected to one of said pulleys, substantially as described.

4. A harp having its casement provided with a string tightening orstretching rod or slide, a lever actuated by the slide and connected toa string, a guide for the rod, and a carrier for the fulcrum, said guideand car rier being supported or mounted in the casement clear or outofcontact with the latter substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

ERNST PAUL STARK.

\Vitnesses:

A. LIES, GUSTAV GEIPAL.

